Symphony of Silence. Review on Black Songs

“Black” is one of the most beautiful scores of bollywood released in a CD format. I don’t say that bollywood composers lack talent to compose good background scores, Infact there are many great scores in bollywood movies before, which still haven’t reached the ears of the commoners as it was not released as an album. The trend is emerging now and I wish we could see more such OST albums in the future.

Have’s and Have Not

The album has got totally 22 instrumental tracks and one inspired song performed by Gayatri Iyer and written by Prasoon Joshi. One of the most common problems with OST album of even Hollywood movies is that they will miss some of the best music cues from the movies but I think this album includes almost all the music cues except one and that is the music scored when Debraj descends down the steps with anger on seeing Michelle eating with hands again after 20 days of training. The beats and orchestration were good in this scene.

Monty and Theme

Typical of Hollywood scores, Monty has composed a simple basic tune of just three notes for the movie which is well orchestrated differently at various moments for various emotions. I wonder how such a simple tune carries the background score of the whole movie on its just three notes. It is in the hands of the composer to make the tune register in the minds of the audience while coming out of the cinema halls by his clever arrangements and orchestrations that both blends well with the mood and emotions in the visual and also hangs on the main tune. Monty has done that brilliantly.

Two Main Themes

There are two main themes on which all other tracks are based on; they are “Michelle’s theme” and “Debraj’s theme”. Michelle’s theme is the title music of the movie starts with a soothing sound of a Middle Eastern instrument called “Duduk” followed by a soothing female humming and ends with a grand orchestration playing the theme of the movie. Monty has got the moods right for each character, just listen a divine Indian sound with mild tanpura in the background whenever Debraj teaches Michelle, which makes us feel through our ears that a magic is going on. This you will realize when you hear the “Debraj’s theme”. The theme is filled with soothing Hindustani alaps, Indian strings and a mild tanpura in the background which completely sounds the magician, the absent minded teacher, the pain, anger and the ambition in the soul of Debraj.

Instruments

He has used some of strange instruments which enhance the uniqueness of the tracks. It has right and equal mix of both Indian especially Hindustani and western classical music. The most widely used instruments in the album are a Middle Eastern instrument called Duduk, which almost sounds like Indian flute in a different range. The sound of this instrument is so unique and its aching sound perfectly suits for resonating the subtle pain and deep emotions in the movie. Piano, the beauty and sensitivity of the tune is well realized when it is played mildly in Piano. Solo violin as we all know is an apt instrument to sound any emotions and just see and listen the pain it brings to our hearts when it plays the theme while mother’s reaction to Michelle calling her “Ma” is captured in the visual. I just get goose bumps when ever I hear this piece. You can hear it in the track “Teacher’s Miracle” in this CD.

“B.L.A.C.K” comes with Amitabh’s dialogues with a Hindustani alap in the background and you could hear the sound of silence at the end of this track when the piano emerges to play the theme subtly.

“Michelle’s First day at school” is an excellent piece with lot of strings and beats sounding the fight between Debraj and Michelle in first day class. The ending is again the orchestration that we heard in Michelle’s theme and the visual of the entire bungalow with mist covering the top is still fresh in mind where this music comes.

“A Ray of light” is one of my favorites where the instruments, orchestration and tune get into lot of variations perfectly matching the visuals. This is used when Michelle after coming under full control of Debraj learns the words Spoon, Napkin, ball etc., in the 20 days. The starting tune is instantly catchy which comes when she starts to eat the food with spoon.

“Water” is a soul stirring piece that is scored when Michelle starts to realize water with her sense of touch and learns the word water. It is one of the most touching moments of the movie. The water dropping sounds, piano, a soothing Indian flute playing authentic Indian notes sounding the raising level of emotions followed by a Hindustani vocal makes it both a completely enjoyable track and also a fitting score for the visual.

“50 Steps” is the funniest theme of the lot with lot of western classical instruments paying western notes. This is one of the tracks which everyone can easily relate with the visual.

“Haan Maine Chukar Dekha Hain” is the only song in the album. I would say it is as a Hinglish song rather than a Hindi song. The lyrics is in Hindi but the notes are purely western and Gayatri Iyer does fine job in singing this song by avoiding English accent in the language and dosage of the western content is only in musical notes. The basic rhythm of the song is very different and in the fusion element we could hear Bhansali more than Monty’s music. The usage of sitar, tabla, shehnai etc., adds Indian elements to the song. The tune of the main line is excellent and it sounds even better when group violins play it with a slight twist in the note of the word “Chukar”. The fusion of techno sounds, synthesized rhythms, Indian instruments and western classical orchestration makes this a unique number of a kind that we have never heard before.

Among the others the ''Mama I failed'', ''Fade out'', ''The Divine Light'', ''Jazz'', ''A Student's Miracle'', ''Bridesmaid'' are outstanding and all are prodigies of two main themes.

And the rest of the tracks are purely situational but nonetheless great to hear.

One may feel bored as the same tune has been repeated again and again but OST albums are meant to be like that. So, one who knows the scene in which the score is used will be able to enjoy and appreciate each and every track more. I was able to recognize most of the tracks and enjoyed to an extent that I could visualize each and every frame of the scene on hearing the music. Is this the success of music or visual or both? The visual and the music compliment each other in this case.

It is the music for mediation, music for healing, music for pain and peace and a symphony of silence. Listen to the album when you are alone and your mind is silent and I am sure you will be taken to a different world.